Talking Points....
This week's discussion will focus on Pastor Doug's enlightened sermon, "Grounded in Grace."
I. Grounded in Grace.
A. Elevated in grace.
1. The Spirit of God wants to take us higher in grace.
2. Frequently, before you can go higher, you must go lower and get grounded.
3. Why do you think that it is frequently important to go lower before you can be elevated in grace?
B. Many believers struggle with the concept of grace.
1. Their relationship with God is based on their performance, not on how Jesus has performed.
2. The feel like they don't measure up.
3. What things can we do to change our focus from our performance, to accepting what He has done for us?
C. Grace divinely enables us to endure to the end.
1. Grace is the unearned, unmerited, undeserved favor and kindness of God.
2. Share a time when grace enabled you to endure despite your circumstances.
D. His grace helps us to want to be better.
1. We feel regret, guilt, and shame when we mess up.
2. Our Heavenly father is for us, no matter our mistakes.
3. How has His grace encouraged you to be better and not get caught in the trap of feeling guilt, shame, and regret?
E. The same blood gives us the same grace.
1. As believers, we need to understand that the failures we have committed after we got saved, are under the same blood as the failures committed before we are saved.
2. When we find ourselves getting caught up in our failures, what are things we can do to accept His grace?
F. Grace is kindness or favor shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it, and in spite of what that person deserves.
1. How have you been able to show grace to someone who didn't deserve it, and how did that grace help them and you?
G. Grace is God's free gift.
1. Romans 11:6 - And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
2. If we replace grace and works for free and earned, it helps us understand His grace.
a. And if it is free, then it is no longer earned; otherwise free is no longer free. But if it is earned, it is no longer free; otherwise earned is no longer earned.
3. Grace is either free or it is earned.
4. How does knowing that His grace is free help you to accept it?
H. Unimaginable debt.
1. Luke 7:36-47 - Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
2. Both owed a debt that hey could not pay.
3. Both were freely forgiven.
4. How does knowing that we all have debts that cannot be paid help you to show grace to others?
I. We all need grace.
1. Romans 3:10-12 - As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
2. We were given "not one" to end any arguments about our need for grace.
3. How does knowing that "not one" is capable of doing everything required, help you to focus on the One who can?
J. Grace can be difficult to understand if you grew up with a performance based gospel.
1. Did you grow up with a performance based gospel? What changed for you to be able to accept grace and stop trying to earn it?
K. Cursed versus blessed.
1. The last word in the Old Testament is curse.
2. The first word Jesus used in His first sermon is blessed.
3. Why do you think that Jesus started His first sermon with the word blessed?
L. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most during this sermon, "Grounded in Grace?"